Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicole Kinjerski. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nicole, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

My legacy isn’t about fame or becoming a household name. What matters to me is the impact I leave behind through the GRIT training philosophies. I envision a world where these principles are common knowledge, where it’s the norm for people to deeply consider if their dogs trust them, and where cardinal concepts like “a polite dog wins” and “do no harm” are part of everyday conversations.

When people reflect on my journey after I’m gone, I hope they remember me as someone who ignited a shift in how we perceive and interact with our canine companions. My wish is for individuals to look back and know I wasn’t just about training dogs; I focused on fostering relationships built on mutual trust and respect.

The core idea: “do no harm”, extends beyond physical safety — it requires setting dogs up for success — and I have hopes this idea will become ingrained in the way we approach dog-human relationships.

I envision a world where we prioritize the emotional and mental well-being of our dogs as much as their physical comfort.

My goal is for people to say, “She championed a new way of understanding dogs, she made us question our methods, and she inspired us to be better partners to our canine companions”.

Nicole, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Growing up I always knew that I wanted to work with dogs. I originally believed that would be as a veterinarian; until I ended up switching degree paths, after realizing the medical treatment aspect wasn’t enjoyable to me. The degree I transferred to was Psychology, due to a fascination with animal behavior.

I hit my first big hiccup in life during my sophomore year of college, when I was diagnosed with disabilities that required help from a service dog. Training my own service dog to be a medical alert companion (using techniques from my Psychology degrees studies) ignited a curiosity within me to understand dogs on a deeper level.

After graduating, I began to pursue a career as a behavior specialist for adults with intellectual disabilities. What I saw was the impact of both: positive reinforcement based techniques from applied behavior analysis, and my service dog’s presence on clients’ lives. The profound connection between dogs and humans became glaringly obvious to me in that job, and compelled me to become a professional dog trainer.

So I began my journey as a professional dog trainer, working as a service dog trainer with a well-known training company who utilizes e-collars. I truly believed in the methodologies at the time, and thought I would focus only on service dog training long term. I had no desire to work with the dogs who were considered behavior cases.

When my own service dog lost sight in one eye overnight — due to a genetic condition — his behavior changed dramatically. He became very reactive to other dogs and people and his service work was put on hold. I tried all the traditional methods and my mentors tried to help. One day we ended up at the vets after a particularly scary reaction from vici, and behavioral euthanasia was discussed. This heartbreaking moment, led me to explore alternative training methods beyond aversives.

Through patience, proper input, and dedicated protocols, I witnessed a transformation in my own dog. This remarkable journey inspired me to acquire further knowledge and eventually specialize in behavior modification for dogs displaying fearful, reactive, and aggressive behaviors.

At GRIT Dog Training, my services provide options tailored to address the unique needs of dogs and their owners, including: behavior evaluations (virtual and in-person options), behavior modification sessions (virtual and in-person options), drop-in sessions, custom dashboards accessible via a convenient app, and case-specific Board and Transform programs.

These services were born out of the realization that clients needed accessible, organized, and effective solutions. The app-based dashboards offer a seamless way for clients to access protocols, receive feedback, and document progress.

A common challenge my clients face is a sense of hopelessness when previous methods fail to address behavioral issues. My custom behavior modification programs are designed for dogs that have exhausted traditional training approaches.

I stand apart in my commitment to building relationships based on trust, deep connections, and mutual respect. My emphasis is not solely on obedience but on transforming relationships. I encourage clients to ‘get gritty’ – to persevere despite setbacks, embodying the philosophy that failure is not the issue, giving up is.

One of my proudest achievements was helping a couple keep their two pit bulls, which were reactive to humans and other dogs. These dogs were unable to cope with a nomadic lifestyle; the clients lived in an RV and traveled the country visiting various campgrounds all over. After a transformation program, they went from displaying intense reactivity to polite canine citizens. Enabling the family to lead a fulfilling life together, instead of rehoming the dogs. This accomplishment of changing the client’s quality of life, proves the power of combining GRIT and positive reinforcement-based training — even in the most challenging cases.

What I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know is that we’re on a mission to redefine how people perceive their dogs. Responsibility to “do no harm” extends beyond physical harm – it means setting dogs up for success. I offer a wealth of knowledge for anyone seeking to succeed at attaining a lifelong relationship built on trust, understanding, and harmony with their dog.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Last November, I faced one of the most challenging experiences of my life when I was mauled by a dog for 20 minutes. The physical and emotional trauma from that incident required me to take months off from training aggression cases, which has been my passion.

When I finally came back, I made a deliberate decision to revisit the grounds where the attack occurred. Facing that place again was a significant step in my recovery, and it allowed me to process some of the feelings I had about the incident. I then walked the grounds working with a mouthy young shepherd; an experience that also helped me work through lingering emotions.

What’s been crucial in this journey is recognizing that healing from such a traumatic event doesn’t happen overnight. I’ve been continuing to process my emotions with the help of a therapist, and I firmly believe in the importance of seeking professional assistance and normalizing recovery from traumatic experiences.

The comeback from the trauma of the dog attack, has not only shown my resilience but has taught me invaluable lessons about healing, growth, and the importance of seeking help when needed. It’s a part of my journey that I carry with me — it was a learning experience and is also a true testament to my GRIT.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Probably the most significant lesson I had to unlearn came from my closest companion, my service dog Vici. I used to see failure as the ultimate defeat, but Vici’s blindness taught me otherwise.

When Vici went blind in one eye and I learned he would eventually go blind in the remaining eye, I believed our joyful life together had reached an abrupt end. The techniques that had once been our bridge of communication seemed to collapse, and I felt lost, thinking we had failed.

But as we stumbled and fumbled together, something beautiful began to emerge. Our failures were not the end but a beginning, a doorway to a new and deeper connection. Together, we discovered new ways to understand and trust each other, transforming our relationship into something more profound and heartening.

Every time we fell, we stood back up, learning and growing from our mistakes. What I once saw as a disaster became an investment in love, trust, and mutual respect. Vici taught me that failure is not the end but a stepping stone to success, a lesson that extends beyond our relationship and resonates with my entire approach to life.

Our journey through blindness turned our connection into something unbreakable, a bond built on absolute trust and affection. It’s a testament to the strength that can be found in what seems like weakness, and a heartwarming reminder that sometimes, our greatest failures lead us to our most beautiful successes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gritdogtraining.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikki_grit/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GRITdogtraining/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@gritdogtraining